Verse 1: “After these things I heard a great voice, like the voice of a great multitude, in the heavens saying: ‘Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power to the L-rd our God.”

After these things: i.e. after the judgements…. those who have a heavenly perspective give glory and praise to God for what He has done by His judgements. Why?

Verse 2: “For true and righteous are His judgements. For He has judged the great harlot who corrupted the earth with her fornication, and has demanded from her hand the blood of His servants.”

His judgements are true and righteous. They manifest His glory, showing that He is the L-rd of Llords. Chemotherapy causes destruction of rapidly growing cancer cells. Despite its destruction of cells it is considered ‘good’ as it aids in the healing process. In much the same way judgement can be viewed as causing destruction in orderto bring aboutsalvation. Judgement is a part of the healing process. God’s judgement can be seen as vindication of His servants.

Verse 3: “And again they said: ‘Hallelujah.’ And her smoke went up forever and ever.”

This is a clear depiction that God’s judgement is not temporary but is eternal.

Verse 4: “And the twenty-four elders and the four creatures fell upon their faces and they worshipped God, who sits upon the throne, and they said: ‘Amen, Hallelujah.’”

These elders were given thrones, and great honor, in heaven. Despite this, almost every time they are mentioned, they get up from their thrones and fall down on their faces in order to worship God. Elders are chosen because they have learned to put truth into action (1 Timothy 3v1-7).

These elders attribute all that they were able to do to God. He was the One who enabled them to act in the manner that they did. God sits upon the throne. The throne is a reference to judgement. The elders and the creatures are praising God for His judgements. Amen speaks of truth. Truth creates an environment where the worship of God can be maintained.

Verse 5: “A voice went forth from the throne and said: ‘Praise our God, all His servants, those who fear Him, both small and great.”

Throughout this book our attention is constantly drawn back to the throne of God. Those who are going to be in the Kingdom are spoken of as servants of God. There is a connection between serving God and the fear of God. (Fear means to make God the priority of our lives.) When God is the priority we find ourselves serving Him.

Verse 6: “And I heard the voice of a great multitude, like the sound of many waters, as the sound of strong thundering, and they said: ‘Hallelujah, for our God, the L-rd of Hosts, reigns.’”

When Messiah came the first time He came as the Redeemer (paying the price for our sins, purchasing our salvation) and not as the Judge (John 3v17). He did the work of salvation to make the grace of God available to us.

When Messiah Yeshua comes back the second time He is coming as Judge, the ‘L-rd of Hosts’. (John 5v22, Matthew 25v31-46) God’s judgement came upon the Egyptians at the Red Sea – Moses told the people to stand still and see the salvation of the L-rd (Exodus 14v13-14). God judged, but the outcome was salvation for His people. God, who is the same yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13v8) was spoken of, at the Red Sea, as a “man of war’ (Exodus 15v3)

When Yeshua came the first time He came as the Lamb of God. When He comes again it will be as the Righteous King.